Sutherland: I was heartbroken by ball-tampering scandal

Departing Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland has spoken of his heartbreak at the ball-tampering affair in March of this year

In an exclusive interview with ESPNcricinfo, departing Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland has spoken of his heartbreak at the ball-tampering affair in March of this year.

The chief executive - who is bringing a 17-year stint to an end - missed the initial scrutiny of the incident, having turned his TV off before the on-field camera footage of Cameron Bancroft concealing sandpaper had been broadcast. He also missed the post-match press conference in which the players attempted to cover their tracks, saying tape, not sandpaper was the foreign object used to alter the condition of the ball.

"At a guess it would've been about midnight I suppose [that I turned the TV off] but, yeah, I wish I was watching, absolutely. It was a serious WTF moment there," he said.

Sutherland described how he the Newlands affair may have panned out differently had he been able to have a more hands-on influence in the initial aftermath of the incident.

"I'd like to think that my judgment and possibly influence would have meant that the media conference would have gone slightly differently.

^{Cameron Bancroft and Steve Smith discussing the incident at the end of the day's play}

"As we know, that was part of the penalty and the severity of the penalty, was to some extent related or at least was consequential in terms of how that was handled - not telling the truth, or not telling the whole truth.’

"I was heartbroken by the events that happened and I think that in some ways I totally understand that in the heat of battle things can boil over and go awry and there can be regrettable incidents.

"[But] I think in some ways the issues of Cape Town were a different thing altogether, it wasn't necessarily a confrontation between two players, that was a premeditated WTF moment that shocked us all."

Sutherland also spoke of his frustration that there were warning signs ahead of the Newlands Test, in what had already been a fractious series between the two teams.

“Part of the extent of my disappointment around Cape Town is heightened by what happened earlier in the series, and my feeling that there were warning signals.

"There were lots of other things going on, and some disgraceful behaviour during the Port Elizabeth Test, provocation by opposition fans but also administrators from the opposition team.

^{Sutherland faces the media}

“But still, if you go back to Durban, my views were expressed during and after the Durban Test match that we needed to take stock and be very aware that when you're playing South Africa, you're playing in a cauldron and we've got two teams that go very hard at each other.” 

In the wake of the scandal, the public outcry swelled, with even Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull labelling the course of events "a shocking disappointment".

Sutherland, who was speaking on his last day in the job, said that despite the muddied reputation of those involved, the game, ultimately, will be better off.

"I think that the good thing about the public response to Cape Town is it's a reminder to everyone as to how important cricket is, what cricket means to the Australian public and the pedestal on which the Australian cricket team is held and the expectations that come with being an Australian cricketer.

"I think our players, Cricket Australia and everyone in Australian cricket is reminded of that and I think it is a huge compliment to cricket and a really stark reminder to everyone. 

"I said from the outset the game will be better for this, it already is, it is not just in Australia but around the world through various things at ICC and other countries that people are picking up and responding to. But also within our own organisation and within our team, players are committed to seeing Australians being proud of the Australian cricket team and the players and how they carry themselves on and off the field."